Arrangement for table game boards

ABSTRACT

A game board has a pair of vertically extending panels with channels separated by partitions therebetween. The game board also has internal channels with curved protrusions and occasional open spaces between them such that a game disk may be deviated from the channel into which it were introduced into an adjacent channel. In addition, curved protrusions in the bottom may cause a game disk to pass from one channel to a next one, thereby providing a degree of player enhancement and heightened experience of chance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of this invention is the manufacture of toys and accessories for table games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The applicant is aware of the existence of a Utility Model applied for in Spain with No. 224,341 on Nov. 9, 1976 under the name of Jose Salazar Fernandez, called the ABILITY GAME.

[0003] The mentioned ability game consists of a vertical board formed by two rectangular parallel sides aligned with each other and separated by several parallel and vertical partition walls. Flat and vertical passages were thereby configured, and in each one there were transversely passing holes arranged symmetrically.

[0004] The upper horizontal edge of the game board is open while the lower horizontal edge is closed by a bottom which can slide to one edge to permit lower removal of game disks. Alternatively, the game disks introduced by the two players in the various vertical channels can be removed by shaking the board.

[0005] The invention in question has game disks in two different colors, 21 for each player, the number of disks being similar to the number of perforations existing in the rear and front faces of the board. The game disks have a size suitable for the width of the channels or passages and a thickness according to the separation the two parallel sides or faces. The diameter of the holes in registration on the front and rear faces and their separation corresponding to the diameter of the game disks, permits the disks to be visible and therefore observable by both players so that each player may try to prevent the opponent from placing four game disks in a straight line consecutively in a horizontal, vertical or inclined position.

[0006] However, the applicant is unaware of the current existence of a board for table games having an arrangement such that internal obstacles not visible to either player cause deviations in the expected vertical path of the game disks to cause transference to alternate channels and even to penetrate blind channels.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present specification relates to an improved arrangement for table game boards. The improvement over table game boards known as “four in a line” lies in a series of challenges which involve the heightened awareness of the players requiring memory, reflexes and personal initiative to overcome the impediments presented by internal curved protrusions, blind channels, and deviation ramps which cause game disks introduced by players lacking concentration to pass to unintended areas. By concentrating, a player can compensate for these internal deviations to achieve the final purpose of locating the four of the game disks in the alignment necessary to win the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The improved arrangement for table game boards proposed by this invention provides novel features which obliges the players to exhibit constant concentration in order to play in a competitive manner.

[0009] More specifically, the game board of this invention while externally similar in configuration to known game boards, has internal channels with curved protrusions and occasional open spaces between them such that a game disk may be deviated from the channel into which it were introduced into an adjacent channel. In addition, curved protrusions in the bottom may cause a game disk to pass to a next one.

[0010] Likewise, the partition walls may have curved protrusions causing the game disk introduced in a descending vertical direction to pass automatically to the adjacent channel and from this, to remain in position if blocked by previously placed game disks in the bottom, or if free to move, to pass down some steps toward the lower area.

[0011] Likewise, at least one blind channel has been arranged such that the player introducing a disk in it will practically lose it.

[0012] Also, the lower area has a ramp which, through openings in the channel walls, may cause a game disk introduced in a channel situated on the right to pass to the central area or to the lower area of a channel situated three or four columns to the left.

[0013] The invention also has various support components. It is unloaded through the top edge where the players introduce the game disks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an improved arrangement for table game boards of this invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the object represented in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0016]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the improved arrangement for table game boards of this invention. Two rectangular face panels 2 and 2′ are joined at their ends to two supports 6 and 6′ with the help of lugs 5 and 5′. This arrangement places face panels 2 and 2′ in a vertical position with partition walls 10, 11, 13, 18, 20 and 21 therebetween in an interior space of constant depth.

[0017] The mentioned partitions produce seven vertical channels 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 numbered from left to right respectively, having a similar width as well as an identical length.

[0018] Each one of the face panels 2 and 2′ has forty-two circular perforations identical to each other and which are in exact registration on face panels 2 and 2′. The mentioned channels permit the introduction and sliding of game disks 25 with an appropriate thickness and diameter to slide along the channels.

[0019] Game disks 25 have diameters slightly greater than perforations 7 and can be moved from one channel to another due to the existence of obstacles, when occurring.

[0020] Channel 30 located on the left side presents a curved protrusion 8 at the lower left area of the third opening 7. When game disk 25 hits protrusion 8, it is displaced to the right whereupon it may pass from channel 30 to channel 40 through a gap between the lower portion of partition 10 and its extension 10′.

[0021] Likewise in the lower area of channel 30 another curved protrusion 24 similar to 8 is placed at the left edge permitting a game disk to pass to another place.

[0022] Channel 40 has a curved protrusion 9 at a similar height protrusion 8 involving the possible deviation of game disk 25 when introduced in channel 40. In the lower right area of channel 40, a curved protrusion 26 is placed similar in function to that numbered 24.

[0023] In channel 50, separated by a longitudinal partition wall 11 there is a curved deviation 12 at the height of the fourth perforation from the upper to the lower area, which automatically guides game disk 25 to the lower area of channel 60.

[0024] Channel 60 has a curved deformation at the height of the third perforation in a descending vertical direction, forming a channel that permits the passage of game disk 25 toward channel 70, channel 60 being separated from 70 by partition wall 18. Partition wall 13 having straight portion 15 after curved area 14 has in its lower area a straight deviation 16 toward the left forming steps with a partition wall 17 constituting the lower area of partition wall 13.

[0025] Partition wall 18, has a curved deformation 19 which terminates on the left face of partition wall 20 thereby forming a blind end preventing the game disk 25 from being moved.

[0026] Over partition wall 20, which is open at its bottom area, there is a gap opening 3 having a curved protrusion 8′ which likewise produces the potential of moving game disk 25 toward channel 70, on being introduced through 80, there existing in the bottom part of channel 80 a ramp 23 terminating in the lower area of channel 60 to this purpose. A game disk introduced through channel 80 is thus displaced through the lower part ending up in the lower area of channel 60, if the lower areas of channels 60 and 70 are clear.

[0027] Finally, channel 90 formed by the upper partition wall 21 parallel to 20 and its extension 22 has a curved protrusion 9′ at a similar height to protrusion 8′ in channel 80.

[0028] As a consequence of the above, it is clearly evident that there exist multiple difficulties to be overcome by the players due to the varied arrangements of obstacles existing inside.

[0029] It is not considered necessary to further extend this description for anyone skilled in the art to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages derived from it.

[0030] The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the components may be varied, provided that this does not involve an essential change of the invention.

[0031] The terms in which this specification has been described should always be interpreted in the widest and non-limiting sense. 

I claim:
 1. An improved arrangement for a table game board comprising a pair of panels (2) and (2′) and a plurality of disks (25) insertable therebetween, which said panels (2) and (2′ ) adopt a rectangular configuration, said panels (2) and (2′) laterally providing with a pair of lugs (5) and (5′) which are coupled over grooves in a pair of legs (6) and (6′), placing said panels (2) and (2′) in vertically extending positions, wherein a lower part (4) of said arrangement closes respective lower horizontal parts of said vertically extending panels (2) and (2′), forming an internal hollow space therebetween, each respective panel (2) and (2′) of said vertically extending panels (2) and (2′) having a plurality of vertically positioned perforations (7) in each respective surface thereof, a highest perforation (7) being a first perforation of a set of vertically descending perforations (7), each of said perforations (7) matching opposite each other respective perforation (7) when said perforations (7) are placed in front of each other, said perforations (7) being circular, said perforations (7) extending from a first top most perforation (7) respectively downward to a sixth lowermost perforation (7), wherein further between said vertically extending panels (2) and (2′) a plurality of vertical inside channels (30), (40), (50), (60), (70), (80) and (90) are formed, each said vertical channel (30,) (40), (50), (60), (70), (80) and (90) being identical in width and thickness, as well as in length and number, said disks (25) being insertable within said respective vertical inside channels (30), (40), (50), (60), (70), (80) and (90), said respective vertical inside channels (30), (40), (50), (60), (70), (80) and (90) being separated by respective partition walls (10), (11), (13), (18), (20) and (21), said partition walls (10), (11), (13), (18), (20) and (21) forming said vertical inside channels (30), (40), (50), (60), (70), (80) and (90) therebetween, a first channel (30) of said vertical inside channels being situated on a left side of said panels (2) and (2′), said first channel (30) having a first angular protrusion (8) protruding from a left top part of said vertical inside channel (30) at a similar height corresponding to a lower area of a third perforation (7) located in a descending vertical direction, extending down respectively within said channel (30) from top edges of each of said panels (2), and (2′), said table game board having a space (3) without a partition wall existing beyond said first partition (10), said first partition (10) separated from and continuing in a similar first extension (10′), a gap opening (3) being provided in a lower area of said vertical inside channel (30), a second angular protrusion (24) being also provided in said lower area of said vertical inside channel (30), and said second angular protrusion (24) being similar in configuration to said first angular protrusion (8) located in said left top area of said vertical inside channel (30).
 2. An improved arrangement for a table game board, according to claim 1, wherein a second vertical inside channel (40) is configured by a second longitudinally extending partition wall (11) situated adjacent said first partition (10) and said first partition extension (10′), said second partition wall (11) exhibiting a third angular protrusion (9) similar in configuration to said first angular protrusion (8), said third angular protrusion (9) being further provided along said second partition wall (11) at a vertical height corresponding to said height of said first angular protrusion (8), there being provided in said lower area of said second channel (40) a fourth protrusion (26) similar to said second angular protrusion (24) provided in said lower area of said first vertical inside channel (30).
 3. An improved arrangement for a table game board, according to claim 2 wherein a third vertical inside channel (50) is separated from said second vertical inside channel (40) by said longitudinally extending partition wall (11), said longitudinally extending wall (11) having a curved extension (12) extending outward therebetween at a similar height to a respective lower area of a fourth perforation (7) of said plurality of perforations (7), said curved extension (12) deviating outward towards an adjacent fourth vertical inside channel (60) of said plurality of channels (30), (40), (50), (60), (70), (80) and (90).
 4. An improved arrangement for a table game board, according to claim 3 wherein said fourth vertical inside channel (60) extends downward adjacent to a third partition wall (13), there being provided extending from said third partition wall (13) a curved deformation extension (14) of said third partition wall (13) deviating towards a right hand adjacent fifth vertical inside channel (70), which said curved deformation extension (14) in said right hand adjacent vertical inside channel (70) in a continuation thereof has a vertical extension (15) which, on finishing in the intermediate area existing between respective sixth and seventh perforations (7) has an inclined deformation (16) extending towards the left, said further extension (15) being finished with a vertically extending body (17) aligned with said third partition (13).
 5. An improved arrangement for a table game board, according to claim 4, wherein a fourth partition (18) is aligned with said further extension (15), said fourth partition (18) having a transverse deformation finishing at a left side of a fifth partition wall (20) at a similar height to that existing between said third and fourth perforations (7).
 6. An improved arrangement for a table game board according to claim 5 wherein a sixth vertical inside channel (80) has at a similar height to said lower left area of said second perforation (7) an angular protrusion (8′) similar in configuration to said angular protrusion (8), said sixth channel (80) having a gap opening (3) in a sixth partition wall (21), said gap opening (3) being delimited at a lower level thereof by a seventh partition wall (22).
 7. An improved arrangement for table game board according to claim 6, wherein at a lower area of said sixth channel (80) there is provided a ramp (23), which said ramp (23) terminates in lower area of said fourth vertical inside channel (60), said vertical inside channels (60), (70) and (80) communicating with each other through an open lower part of said table game board.
 8. An improved arrangement for table game boards, according to claim 7, wherein a seventh vertical inside channel (90) has in its right side at a similar height to said angular protrusion (8′) a similar angular protrusion (9′).
 9. An improved arrangement for a table game board comprising a pair of spaced apart, upwardly extending panels, said panels having a plurality of hollow vertically extending channels formed therebetween, said pair of panels supported by a lower base end connected to a pair of legs, said panels being further connected by a plurality of partition walls, each of said panels having a plurality of perforations corresponding to as further plurality of perforations on each other of said plurality of panels, said board having at least one protrusion therein for deviating a path of at least one disk traveling therethrough.
 10. The improved arrangement for a table game board as in claim 9 further comprising at least one of said partition walls having a gap therein for providing movement of said at least one disk therethrough from a first channel of said vertically extending channels to an adjacent channel.
 11. The improved arrangement for a table game board as in claim 10 wherein at least one of said partition walls includes an extension extending in at least one direction deviating from a vertically extending direction of said at least one partition wall; said extension providing a further path for deviating a path of said disk through said at least one vertically extending channel. 